the first segment of "Phoenix"

Blooming

It took me a long time to find my true friends. I had to lose all of the fake ones before I realized what really matters. When I was in grade school, my best friend would sell me out, pick any other friend over me and ignore me at school for a chance at popularity and act like nothing was wrong when we got together after that school day. I was a PUSHOVER. After being pushed and pushed I found solace when I realized - outside of that environment in my tiny school - people who just met me thought I was funny. Guys who just met me thought I was attractive. I was only the weird girl in those hallowed halls of St. Cecelia's grammar school and from that day forward I decided I would be the person I envisioned as my future. I would be me unencumbered by bullying in my past. I was always the person I am today in my heart but the strength of the woman I am today took a lot longer to buff up.
Shortly after the realization that my classmates at St. Cecelia's were the cliche eyes of the beholders was the transition from having 31 classmates to moving to public high school. The September leaves fell from the trees while my colors slowly changed as well. I made my first friend the first day of home room. The first friend who was my choice and not just a matter of convenience. My best friend from grade school followed me to high school as well and I was constantly pulled in two different directions - seeking approval from Taylor and being unabashedly myself with Courtney. I was a misfit slowly blossoming into a beautiful woman who could stick up for other misfits.
When December rolled around I had come into my own in school. I wasn't popular, but I was confident. I joined the newspaper, further developed my friendship with Courtney and held onto great grades. I went to visit my cousin in Brooklyn for his birthday. When I stepped out of my mom's SUV that evening I was met with eyes I've never seen before. Eyes I would later see in every emotion and associate with every emotion. I didn't know it then, but my cousin's friend would change me in ways I only read about in Sarah Dessen novels. I perked up, but I should have run the other way.

Intrigue